Fire Call

Series

Series Name
New Pictorial

Issue

Issue No.
412
Date Released
4 Aug 1952
Length of issue (in feet)
759
Stories in this Issue:

Story

Story No. within this Issue
5 / 5
Researcher Comments
Commentary: Every second counts, when the London Fire Brigade are called out. These are the code-letters which order men and machines into action. Almost before the traffic lights change, they’ll be out on the road! A sharp heave on the lanyard - and - twenty seconds from zero - the pump-escape’s away! Fire-boots and helmets are already on board. Time to don them now the crew’s on its way! The drivers are specially tested. They are allowed to exceed the speed limitation driving to fires. Speed plus safety - that’s the rule of the Brigade. There’d be casualties in plenty, otherwise - with up to twenty thousand fire calls a year. What he’s driving is called a turntable ladder. It carries a 100-foot ladder - a valuable ally at fires in tall buildings. At least three appliances are ordered to every call in London. One or two of these must be pump-escape. In areas of high buildings there’ll also be a turntable ladder. Appliances are ordered from more than one station and, to avoid the risk of being held up in traffic jams, they take different routes to the scene of the fire. It’s a big blaze but, without hesitation, the team goes into its very heart to fight the flames. A fireman’s life is full of risks, but, whatever the job ahead, he follows the call of duty whenever "the bells goes down".
Keywords
Vehicles; Accidents and disasters
Footage sources
Ours
Credits:
Commentator
Eamonn Andrews
Length of story (in feet)
176
Story extras:
Film clip

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Film Archive

Name
British Pathe Ltd
Email
info@britishpathe.com
Web
https://www.britishpathe.com/
Phone
0207 665 8340
Address
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Notes
Pathe now also handles the Reuters Historical Collection, which includes the British Paramount, Empire British, Gaumont Graphic and Gaumont British newsreels.
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How to cite this record

'Fire Call', New Pictorial Issue No. 412, 4 Aug 1952. https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/newsonscreen/search/index.php/story/119410 (Accessed 01 Feb 2025)